Dr. Sheryl Louie spent her college years reading the texts of Plato and Kant and other political thinkers. She took her pre-med courses as electives. “I majored in political science because I knew I would be doing science for the rest of my life, and I wanted to learn something I knew nothing about,” she says.
Back then, Dr. Louie says she didn’t think much about how the study of political philosophy might affect her career as a physician. But today she uses her critical-thinking skills every day. A good doctor needs to know when to take time to reflect, she says. “You need to be a good listener, and you need to take time with patients when they need it, no matter how busy you are.”
When Dr. Louie came to Southdale Ob/Gyn in 2008, many of her previous patients came with her. And of those who didn’t, many changed their mind down the road. “They said to me, ‘You know, I didn’t think it really mattered to me which doctor I saw. But it does!’ That was nice to hear.”
Dr. Louie says coming to Southdale Ob/Gyn has helped her achieve a happy balance of family and work. “I love what I do, and I never want to stop doing it, and I love raising my son. At this practice, you can make it work because here it’s not ‘my patients’ and ‘your patients,’ it’s ‘our patients.’ When we see each other’s patients, we dive right in: ‘I’m your doctor now, and I’m going to take care of you.’ People care.
“I had one patient in particular – who was very nervous about what would happen if I wasn’t at the delivery. But she came back and said, ‘It was great! The doctor was great! You were right!’ That was really nice to hear.”
Dr. Louie describes herself as “meticulous,” “thorough,” and “easy to talk to.” Her passions? French fries, HGTV, and her 1923 Prairie-style home. “My hobby is renovating my old house — with period doorknobs, light fixtures, custom-made trim, the works. I love it.”
She admits to having a “meltdown” about light switches at one point. “They just weren’t right, and I was having a bad day.” She laughs. “My contractor was very understanding when I told him, ‘I know I can be a little particular — and it’s a pain if you’re my contractor … but it’s great if you’re my patient!’ ”